William dilts



W. DILTS.

STEP LADDER.

(No Model.)

No. 359,716. Patented Mar. 22, 1887.

Yrares llNrrnD Arent* @tirreno ASSIGNOR OF ONE-IIA LF TO ROBERT O. SMITH, OF SAME PLACE.

STEP-LADDER.

sPncIFIcATIoN forming para of Leners P Application filed December 16, 1856.

T @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM BILTS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in StepLadders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in 1o step-ladders.

The object of my invention is to prod uee a step-ladder which can be extended to different lengths, which will be adapted to rest firmly upon uneven surfaces, and which will be sim'- ple of construct-ion and manipulation, and not expensive to manufacture.

The invention consists, primarily, in producing independent extensibility and adjustability for fach ofthe four uprightfsupports of 2o a step-ladder, so that. the ladder may be placed in any position whatever and yet be capable of resting iirnily` even where eueh upright stands upon a different level from the others; and the ineans invented for attaining this end consists of a continuous tongue on one part anda corresponding groove on the other part of eaeh upright, so that the two parts may he slid lengthwise to different positions and at ways have Continuous and Iirm intervening 3o bearings.

The invention comprises, also, removable and adjustable rungs for the lower portions of the ladder and suitable rung attachments, and the various attachments and features here inafter fully set forth.

Figure l is a front view, Fig. 2 a side view, and Fig. 3 a back view, of my extension stepladder, the front supports or uprights being designated by a and a. and their extensions by 4o I) and b', the back supports or back uprights by the letters c and c' and their extensions by (l and d', and theladder being shown standing sidewise upon a stairway s, s, and having the uprightexteusions b' and d. on the near side,

Fig. 2, resting upon the next higher step to that upon which the uprights b and d rest. When looking in the direction ot the arrows rra, the front and bael; sides of the ladder are seen in Figs. l and 3 as when looking at Fig.

5o 2. In Fig. 2 the near upright-extensions b and (lare shown resting upon the upper step,

atent No. 359,716, dated lidar-:h 22,1887.

Serial No. 221,791. (X0 model.)

si, which is shown dotted, thus giving a view ofthe inner sides ofthe lower ends ofthe extensions b and d. The remaining gures show details of eonstruetion, which will he 53 fully explained in connection with the following description.

The saine letters or nuinbers designate the saine parts in all ofthe iigu res, and the prime letters or numbers the dotted positions of these 6o parts.

The upper portion of my extension stepladder is of substantially the saine construction as an ordinary non-extensible step-ladder, and comprises the front uprights, a and a', 65 supporting steps 13 in the usual manner, the back supports, c and c', braced in a suitable manner, as shown at 32, suitable hinges, 84:, hinge castings 35, and top step, 83. This portion of the ladder is complete in itself, and 7o can be used separately, when so desired, it being easy to quickly remove orvconneet the extensionseetion.

The uprights a a and c e' (shown) each have their exterior edges out away from points u, near their upper ends, continuously to their lower ends in suoli manner as that a continuons dovetail tongue, l2, Figs. l, 2, 3, and 4,` will extend along the exterior of each of the uprights from the points a to their lower ends. 8o The tongue 12 could be a separate piece attached to the side of the upright; but greater strength and less expense in manufacturing will be .had by cutting the edges of the uprighls away, as shown in thetigures. This can be best done by machinery adapted to that end.

The lower uprights or upright extensions I) b and d d eaeh have a continuous dovetail groove, 11, extending along the middle of their 9c inner sides from the points m,near their lower ends, upward. The extension b, say,is attached to the corresponding upright o, by inserting the lower end of the tongue 12 of et within the upper end of the groove ll of l; and sliding the part Z1 upon the part (t. All of the upright extensions are similarly attached to the corresponding uprights and may be slid lengthwise to any desired position, so that thel lower ends of the extensions b b' and el d are all on a level u or all on different levels.

Various means may be used ior securing the point 37 bears hard within the hole 3S.

upright extensions to the uprights in any such positions. I prefer a setscrew or a bindingscrew. In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 these parts are shown so secured by means of setscrews 2. In Figs. 6 and 7 the details of the preferred form of set-screw are shown. In Figs. et and 7 a piece of strap-iron, 40, is 'shown secured, as by means ot' tacks or screws 39, to the eX- terior of the tongue 12. In Fig; 4 the piece 40 is shown inserted in the tongue 12, so as to come Hush with the exterior surface of the tongue, and .is shown as having a continuous row of holes, 38, in line with the point of the set-screw 2 of Fig. 7.\ In Fig. 7 the set-screw 2 is shown secured in a nut, 3, which is set into the exterior ot the extension b and suitably secured, as by screws 24. The section of b is through the middle of the slot 11 in b'and the nut 3. The mid-section of the strap-iron 40 is shown in place against the bottom ofthe groove 11, but one hole, 3S, being shown for the set-screw point 37. Fig. 6 shows the exterior of the nut 3.

The point 37 oftheset-serew 2 could be forced into the wood ot' the tongue 12, where no metal piece 40 is used. Were the tongue 12 made of hard wood this would be practicable; but when made integral with the rest of the upright a,ofsoft wood, the point 37 would eventually cut away and injure the center of the tongue 12.

The set-screw 2, as shown iu Fig. 7, has a shoulder, 37, adapted to bind against the surface ofthe strap 40. At the same time the This construction insures a secure fastening for the uprights and their extensions.

In Figs. 9 and 13 a casting, 7, is shown clamped to the upright-extension b', by means of a set-screw, 1, having a washer or ilat bearing, 10, at its inner end adapted to bear against the exterior surface of the extension b.. rIhe set-screw used for fastening the extensions to the uprights could have such an end bearing, which could be made to bind against the exterior surface of the tongue 12. rIhis would be preferable to forcing the point 37 of the set-screw 2 into the wood of the tongue 12. By leaving the ends of the uprights a a and c c, solid above the points a, and the ends of the extensions b b' and d el solid below the points m greater strength and durability of the said parts will he attained.

By providing each of the uprights a c' c c` of a step-ladder with an independently-adjustable extension, provision will be had for stand-` ing the ladder" firmly upon uneven surfaces and .for standing the ladder sidewise upon a stairway, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3; but this 4would not provide the extension step-la.dder contemplated in this application.

The stepdadder herein set forth is intended to be capable of such extension that one size of ladder may be made to anwer for several different sizes, as such ladders have been pre-- viously constructed. To this end it becomes necessary to provide the extensions b and t',

with rungs or steps also, for while a steplad der having the extension-pieces b b and c c (only) would providefor the adjustability de- 7o sired for uneven surfaces, there would be no means constituting a part of the ladder which would enable the user to conveniently mount v the iirst stop (13) were these parts b b and c c made as long as is intended with my construetion.

I provide rungs for the extensions, and,.in order to provide for the independent adjustability of the upright-extensions at the same time, I make these rungs removable or adjust- 8O able, or both. The simplest removablerung (so simple as not to require illustration)'may be a round .rung held loosely at its ends within holes in the parts b b', and bc removed or replaced by being` moved endwisc within the said 35 holes, or be a flat rung held in gaps eut in the front edges ofthe extensions Z) and b', or gaps formed in pieces secured at suitable heights along` the front edges of the parts b and 7)'. Vhile such removable .rungs would be covered by the broad claims for movable rungs whichr follow this description, they would not be pre ferrcd, on account of `ease of loss or displacenient. The removable rungs and attachments preferred are illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 5, S, 9,95 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 1S. Two such1 rungs are shown in Figs. 1 and 2, placed slightly farther apart than the steps 13 on the upper section, since they are used more as a i'neansof access to the steps 13 than to stand upon. m0 These two rungs and the attachments showni are identical in construction, but are arranged the reverse way across the ladder, for a reason` to be explained later.

In Fig. 8 the upper ring and attachments m5 shown in Figs 1 and 2 are shown on a larger scale, but inthe same position as in Fig. 1. Fig. 17 is a View of the hinge 26 of the rung` 15 and of the side of the upright extension b when looking toward the left side of l) in Figs. 11o 1 and 8.

The fiat rung 15 has a hinge, 26, connecting it with a part, 27, which is pivoted by ineans of the bolt 2S 29 to the exterior side of the` extension b. The other end of the rung, 15, rests in a gap, "14, Fig. 9, formed between the front edge of the extension b, and a projection,

5, upon the casting 7, which is clamped to the extension b. The hinge end of the rung 15, which should have some play between it and r2.0 the front edge of the extension Z) `rests upon a casting, 25, secured to the extension b. The free end of the rung 15 may be lifted out of the gap 14, or over the projection 5, and swung around forward until its back surface comes flush with the exterior side surface of the extension b, when the rung will extend perpen dicularly outward from the hinge 2G. If we now lool; at the extension I), as shown in Fig.

17, the rung 15 will be occupying a position in 15o line with its position in Fig. 8. Vhen in this i position, the rung 15 may be swung about the pivot 29, as indicated by the dotted arc, either' in the direction of the arrow r* (upward) to the position 15, or in the direction of the arrow r1" (downward) to the position 15. `When so placed alongside of the extension b, it may be seeuredin various ways, as by having its free end slipped beneath a spring, or by having this end held by a button, &c.

In Fig. 5 a pivot, 29?, corresponding to that 29 in Fig. 17 has an oblong cross-section, and the part 27, corresponding to 27 in Fig. 17, has a hole, 31, having a diameter equal to the greatest dia-meter of pivot 292, communicating with a slot, 30, having its shortest diameter' equal to the least diameter of the pivot 292, so that when the part 27' is in the horizontal position it will be retained in place by the pivot 292, and when turned downward in the direction of the arrow i", the slot 3() will slip over the pivot 29", and the rung hang suspended in the dotted position, and on account of the relative proportions ot' the slot 30 and the crosssection ot' the pivot 292, the piece 27, and couscquently the attached rung 15, will be prevented froni swinging about the pivot and reinain in position at the side of the extension b, as at 15 in Fig. 17. By placing the slot 30 on the other side of the hole 31 the rung 15l may be maintained at the side of the upright b, projecting in an upward direction. By hinging one of two such rungs to the eXtension b and the other to the extension b', as in Fig. 1, they will not he in each others way when placed at the sides ot' the extensions; but since provision has been made for supporting arung at the side of the upright extension, either above or below the pivot 29, as just shown, if more than one such rung be hinged to the saine extension, as b, then one of these may be extended upward and the other downward, so that three or more such rungs may be practically att-ached to the saine ladder.

The casting 7 is shown in Figs, 8, 9, and 13- as having aprojection, 5, forming with the front face of the extension b' a gap, 14, within which the free end of the rung 15 is placed and held when the latter is in use. As shown in Fig. 13, this casting 7 has parts 4, 6, and 7, which bear against the front, back, and side, respectively, ofthe extension b', and the parts f1 and 6 have inwardly-extending tongues, 8, adapted to catch behind the inner edges of the extension b', whereby the casting 7 is held to the upright,while being free to slide along it. The casting 7 has a set-screw, 1, having a fiat inner end, 10, adapted to bear against the exterior surface of the extension b', by means of which the casting may be clamped at any desired point along the extension. As shown in Fig'. 13, only, the corresponding upright, a has rabbeis 9 at the corners, within which the tongues 8 may slide. These rabbeis could of course be forined in the inner edges of the extension b. The preferable casting 7, however, is shown in Figs. 11 and 14,where the extension b has grooves y in its front and Ioacl;` faces and near its outer edges, and the casting 7 has tongues 82 in corresponding positions. Here, as in Figs. S, 9,and 13, a set-screw, 1, serves to clamp the casting 7 to the extension b. The gap 14l in this modification, however, is wedge shape, and narrower than the rung 15, as shown in Fig. 11, so that when the rung is forced into the gap it is thus firmly secured.

The ladder may be so situated sometimes that there would not be sufficient room to swing the rung out in front, in order to swing it alongside of the upright extension, or to swing it from that position. Figs. 15, 16, and 18 show a inoditicalion,where the rung may he swung into and out of position for use even in such a confined space. Here the piece 4G is shown pivoted at 4i 45 to the side of the up- -right extension b, as was the piece 27 in Fiv.

17, and as having the hinge 262, like that, 26,0f Fig. 17; but thehinge part 41 has a stud-bolt, 42 282, projecting forward, and the rung 15 is pivoted to this stud, so as to swing in the direction of the arrow r, Fig. 1G, while the hinge part 41 remains in the position shown.

A casting, 252, secured to the front of the extension b', has a projection, 25, forming a gap, 254, Fig. 15, with the extension Z/,within which the of the rung 15n rest when the latter is in place. In swinging this rung 15 to the side of the extension b', it is raised out of the gap 254and then swung in the direction of the arrow ri', Fig. 16, until it stands in front of the upright extension, as in the dotted position 15", when it, together with the hinge part 41, Fig. 18, is swung in the direction of arrow r around the edge of the extension b', after which, by pulling upon the rung, the parts straighten out and swingfroni the pivot 44 45, and may be suitably secured at the side of the extension Za'. A simpler modification for the saine purpose is shown in Fie'. 12, in perspective, where the extension b has a rod, q, bent around its outer front edge, and which has one end, z, bent on an easy curve at p, so as to project at right angles from the extension b and be secured in a hole in its side, the other end, e, of the rod q being siinilarlybent, so as to project at right angles from the front of the upright extension and be similarly secured in the extension. The rod q has an easy bend, p, also where it curves around the edge of the extension.

As shown in Fig. 12, the rung 15 has a hole, o, in its end, through which the rod g passes. The rung 15c is shown in the position occupied when in use. When not wanted, it may be swung directly upward or downward or outward, and around upon the bent rod q into a position at the side of the extension b, asindicated by the arrows fr, fri, and if.

The object ol' having the casting 7 adjustable along the upright extensions is lo he able to always place therung lhorizontal, no inatter what the relative positions of the extensions b andgb may be.

in ladders having long extension-sections, the back upright extensions, d and d', should hinge part 41 and the pivoted endY IOC be-suitably braced. In Fig. 3 a brace, 20, is shown pivoted at 23, and adapted to swing in the dotted are i v3.

A casting, 18, Figs. 3 and 10, has parts 17,

6, and 18 bearing against the front, back, and the exterior side of the extension d, and the parts 17 and 6 have tongues like those, 82, of Fig. 14, which slide in grooves g, Fig. 3, and this casting is clamped to the extension cl by means of a setscrew, 1G. This casting has a projection, 17, in front,extending upward and forming,with the back face of the extension d, a gap, 19, and the projection 17 has a boss, 22, and a set-screw, 21. lVhen this casting is secured to the extension by means of the setscreW 16 in the position shown in Fig. 3, and the free end of the brace 20 is placed in the gap 19 `and secured by means of the set-screw 21,`the upright extensions d and d are rnily braced. The brace 20 is made long. so that the casting 18 may be at any position between i and i", and the free end of the brace be secured thereby Without having to move the casting each time the extensions d and d are adjusted relative' to each other.

I claim- 1. A step-ladder having front and back upright-supports hinged together at the top and steps or rungs supported by the front uprights, and each ofthe uprights having acon` tinuous dovetailed tongue on its exterior, in combination with an extension for each said nprighthaving a continu ous dovetailed groove, Within which the said tongue on the upright bears and is guided, and the said upright and extension having suitable means, as a setscrew, whereby they may be secured together in any desired position, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a step-ladder having adjustable supporting-extensions for the front supportinguprights, the combination of movable ruugs withthesaid upright-extensions, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a step-ladder having adjustable supporting-extensions for the front sujjlporlinguprigbts, the combination of the said extensions, one or more movable rungs, each pivoted at one end to one upright-extension, and so as to swing about the said pivot and around tothe side of the extension having Ithis pivot, and also across theladder, and a suitable support on the other extension for the free end of the rung, as a casting having a gap in which the end of the rung rests, substantially as described.

4. In `astep-ladder haring adjustable extensions for the front supporting-uprights,` the combination of the upright-extension b, the pivot 29, hinge-piece 27, hinge 26, and the rung 15, substantially as set forth.

5. In a step-ladder having adjustable extensions for the front supportinguprights, the combination of the said extensions, a rung pivoted to one of the upright-s and having ahinge adjacent the upright to which it is pivoted,

and a projecting part, as 25 or 252, for support-` ing the hinge-end of the rung, substantially as described.

6. i In a step-ladder having-adjustable extensions for the front supporting-uprights, the casting having parts 4 7 6,r bearingagainstthe front, side, and back of the upright-extension and having suitable inwardly-extending sion and having inwardly-extending tongues S2, and a set-screw as `means for securing the i casting to the upright-extension and having a projection, 5, with an inclined inner surface, which, with the frontof the upright-extension,

forms a Wedge-shaped rung-gap, 142, in coin-` bination with the said upright-extension having grooves g in its front and back sides, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In a stcp-ladder having adjustable extensions for the back supporting-uprights, the combination of the said extensions, a suitable brace pivoted to one extension and reaching across to the other extension, and a fastening securedy to the latter extension for fastening the free end of the said brace, substantially as described. 1

9. In a step-ladder having adjustable extensions for the back Ysupporting-uprights, the combination of the said extensions, the brace 20, pivoted to one upright-extension and reaching across to the other extension, and the casting 18, having parts 17 18 6, bearing against the front, side, and baclr of the latter extension and having inwardly-extending tongues, as described, and a set-screw, 16, at the side, and the front part, 17, extending upward and in front of the said extension and forming a gap, 19, with the front of the said extension for the end of the brace 20, and having a setscrew, 21, whereby the free end of the brace 2O lnay be secured to the said casting, substantially as described.

IIO

10. In a step-ladder having a movable rung pivoted at one side, the combination of the pivot having an oblong cross-section and the` rung part having a pivot-hole communicating Y With-21 slot, whereby the rung may be freely,

turned about the pivot When'the latter is in the hole, but prevented from turning when it is in the slot, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

11.. In a stepladder having adjustable upright-extensions, the combination, with the extensions provided with internal grooves, ll, the combination of the said uprights and up- 1ight-eXtensions`, nuts suitably secured Wit-hin or to the bodies of the extensions, and setscrews working in the said nuts and serving to secure the said uprights and upright-extensions togethei in varied positions, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

13. In it step-ladder having uprights provided With external tongues, 12, and uprightextensions provided with internal grooves, ll, the combination of the said uprights and up rightextcnsions, strips of metal 40, attached Witnesses:

EDWARD P. RoBBINs, WILLIAM REINHART. 

